Greece comes first in the annual retirement index by International Living

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Looking for the best places to retire outside the U.S.? International Living’s 2026 Annual Global Retirement Index, now in its 35th year, identifies “the best global destinations for a rewarding, low-cost retirement overseas” and is based on key criteria like healthcare, housing, climate, and cost of living.

Greece comes in first place due to its affordability, superb private healthcare, the Mediterranean climate, and a range of accessible visas.

Jennifer Stevens, Executive Editor of International Living, said that “Greece’s rise to number one marks a shift in Europe’s retirement landscape.” Portugal and Spain have long been the European leaders for retirees looking to move to a new country for a better life.

Stevens adds, “Greece now offers what many are seeking—a beautiful, welcoming, and affordable European base with accessible residency options and a lifestyle that feels rich in every sense.” Greece scores among the highest in climate, housing, and healthcare—key components on the retirement wish list.

In terms of retirement visas, Greece also has one of the most affordable golden visa programs. Both Greece and Portugal, have benefitted from the fact that Spain closed its golden visa program earlier in 2025.

Greece’s golden visa program starts at an investment of about $300,000 (€250,000) for property in need of renovation or in areas of lower housing pressure, rising up to $930,000 (€800,000) for properties over 120 square metres or in sought-after areas such as Mykonos or Santorini.

If retirees don’t want to invest in property, there is the Financially Independent Person permit or people still working can apply for a digital nomad visa.

This retirement index doesn’t just cover the most affordable places to retire but takes into account a variety of factors. Certainly, it considers affordability, where your money can stretch a little further, but also where the quality of life merits the move.

The Best Places To Retire In 2026, Per International Living

Interestingly, European countries rank highly, with Greece, Portugal, Italy, France, and Spain all in the top ten, proving that while other countries may be more affordable, Europe still ranks highly for retirees seeking the best package overall, particularly when healthcare is taken into consideration.

Here is the top ten for the International Living index for best places to retire in 2026:

  1. Greece
  2. Panama
  3. Costa Rica
  4. Portugal
  5. Mexico
  6. Italy
  7. France
  8. Spain
  9. Thailand
  10. Malaysia

Malaysia offers affordable and accessible healthcare for expats, and foreigners can buy property too, and just like Thailand, one place above in the list, the index states that life “runs on simplicity” and crucially can fit any budget.

Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica benefit American retirees in their closer proximity to the U.S. than other countries further afield and the lower cost of living than in the U.S. is a big draw. As an example, according to Numbeo, the cost for a single person per month, not including rent, is $800 in Panama and $637 in Mexico—compared to $1,166 in the U.S. on average.

This top ten also chimes with a recent report by Global Citizen Solutions, where the Global Retirement Report 2025 ranked Portugal, Spain and Italy incredibly highly in terms of the visa offering for American retirees.

Regardless of what kind of environment you crave to meet your retirement dreams, all ten offer charm, culture and affordable healthcare, making them some of the best places to retire in 2026 and beyond.

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